Accies face race to sign new player for trip north to Dingwall

Jan 11 2007

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid is working hard to bring in at least one new face ahead of Saturday’s First Division clash at Ross County.

The New Douglas Park gaffer this week spent time in England, alongside coach John Bean, as he scours the market.

Reid knows he desperately needs to add some experienced players to his young side, and with an horrendous injury list, that means signing new stars.

Accies failed in bids to bring in Gretna’s Steve Tosh and Hartlepool striker Jon Daly, who instead joined Queen of the South and Dundee United, respectively.

He said: “We’re holding trial games, taking games in down south, and we’re working hard on bringing somebody in.

“My players are giving me everything at the moment but they just need a wee bit of experience and we’re hoping to add someone before Saturday’s match.”

Meanwhile, Reid admitted he needs to boost morale ahead of Saturday’s trek to Dingwall.

He said: “We’ve not won for nine games, morale is slightly down, and it’s incredible that we can’t get so many players on the park because of injury. But that’s the cards we have been dealt, and there nothing I can do.

“We have some fantastic young players throughout our system, but we need experience on the park, and I just don’t have that at the moment.

“The Ross County game is a chance for us to get the monkey off our back. We need to start picking up points and, really, we need a win.

“A win would go a long way towards us moving back up the table, and I think we’re more than capable of getting that result, but we need to stop giving away suicidal goals.”

Reid was naturally disappointed in Saturday’s 4-2 home defeat by Livingston, which saw the club exit the Scottish Cup third round.

Billy said: “It’s disappointing to be going out of the cup because we had a good run last year, reaching the quarter-finals.

“I thought being 4-1 down was pretty harsh on us because we started the game fairly well.

“But we lost a silly goal, and it’s the type that we have been losing recently.

“In the second half we changed things, came alive, and got our goal.

“But we didn’t pick up Steven Tweed at a free-kick, he scored with a header, and then we lost two crazy goals towards the end.

“But I’m not going to have a go at any of the young boys. I feel for them because usually when you’re bringing kids through you need experienced players to advise them when things are going wrong, and they don’t have that.

“These guys are having to grow up themselves. On Saturday Alex Neil ended up being the oldest player on the park at 25.

“They’re learning their trade while playing, and with young players you get inconsistency.

“These guys aren’t ready to play yet, to be honest, but we don’t have any choice.

“Our fans are obviously disappointed to lose games, but sometimes you’ve got to take stock of the whole situation and get behind the team, because we’re having difficult times.”